Gop Split Could Form Third Political Party In Idaho Republican Leaders Must Not Ignore The Christian Right And Its Issues, Group Director Says

A new proChristian political party could be formed, a leader of Idaho’s Christian Right says, if the Idaho Republican Party doesn’t pay enough attention to issues such as homosexuality, home schooling and abortion.

Leaders of both political parties say if the Idaho GOP splits between economic conservatives and social conservatives, it could help revive the Democrats.

In an article, “Coming Earthquakes in Idaho,” Idaho Family Forum Executive Director Dennis Mansfield says 1996 could bring a new era of “Christian social activism coupled with the beginning of the death of the GOP.”

The Christian Right has been closely allied with the Republican Party in Idaho, but Mansfield’s article in the May “Idaho Citizen” suggests cracks could be forming in that alliance.

Blasting “country club social moderates” such as Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mansfield said Republican leaders must not ignore the Christian Right and its issues.

“If the conservatives elected in the 1994 ‘earthquake’ fail to deal with the pressing social needs of the American public, a third party will arise out of the Republican Party, and politics will be shaken to its core.”

“If that is so, Idaho politics will never be the same,” he said.

Last month, Idaho Citizens Alliance chairman Kelly Walton issued a warning of his own, telling GOP leaders not to abandon the party’s “compassionate roots.”

If the 1996 GOP presidential and vice presidential nominees aren’t antiabortion, “they can expect major defections from around the country among conservatives, and I’ll be one of them,” Walton told The Times-News.

Such a split wouldn’t bother Idaho Democratic Party executive director Cathy Fuller. “Mr. Mansfield is welcome to start a third party,” Fuller said.

She said a new, socially conservative party would attract more Republicans than Democrats, but would not win many elections. “I think the agenda of the Family Forum is their agenda and isn’t shared by a majority of the people here.”

GOP Chairman Randy Smith, Pocatello, said he knows some social conservatives are frustrated. He encourages Mansfield and others to be patient.

While Congress is focusing on fiscal matters now, the social agenda will not be forgotten, according to Smith. “I know the Republican agenda is to solve the problems that Mr. Mansfield is talking about,” Smith added.

Smith is encouraging Mansfield to work with the GOP and to drop “third party” threats. “Frankly, I truthfully believe that threats and political rhetoric to try to help causes are not the best way to go,” Smith said.

While social conservatives consider creating a third party, economic conservatives are also debating the merits of the two-party system.

Platt Thompson, executive director of United We Stand America Idaho, said his organization isn’t ruling out formation of a third party by 1996.

At a Twin Falls meeting this week, 40 percent of the members present said they’re ready to launch a new political party.

The other “60 percent said ‘wait and see.’ I didn’t hear any definite nos,”’ Thompson said.